Edward ewing



Miran STATES EDW'ARD EVING, -OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TOROBERT E. HASTINGS, JOHN V. HASTINGS, AND HARRY O. HAST- INGS, ALL OFSAME PLACE.

METHOD OFBOOKING GOLD-LEAF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,823, dated February3, 1885.

Application filed May 10, 1834. (X specimens.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD EWING, a subject of the Queen of Great Britainand Ireland, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain Improvements in Booking Gold-Leaf, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to produce a book of gold-leaf in whichthe sheets of gold and paper adhere so firmly that there will be noliability of the gold leaf being blown off when the gilder is working inexposed localities, the adherence of the gold-leaf to the paper notbeing such, however, as to prevent the ready separation of the two whenthe goldleaf has been applied to the sized surface. In other words,while the gold-leaf adheres so firmly to the paper as to prevent itsaccidental removal by a current of air. it will adhere with greatertenacity to the size which covers the surface to be ornamented.

In booking gold-leaf the thin leaves ofgold are placed on pieces ofpaper, which serve as a medium whereby the gold can be readily handledand applied to the sized surface. Usually the go1d-leaf has no tendencyto adhere to the sheet of paper, and consequently it is difiicult, ifnot impossible, for a gilder to work with facility in situations whereexposed to currents of air, the gold-leaf being disarrangcd or blownaway before it can be applied to the sized surface. Gilders have formany years attempted to overcome this annoyance by waxing or greasingpieces of paper and then applying these waxed or greased pieces of paperto the gold-leaf, but the difficulty of preparing thepaper evenly, andthe tendency of the gold-leaf to adhere to the greasy paper rather thanto the sized surface, made the process very imperfect and attended witha large percentage of loss of the gold-leaf. Another plan recentlypracticed is to dry the pieces of paper thoroughly before applying themto the goldleaf; but this plan is also objectionable on account of thecare which must be exer cised in properly drying the pieces of paper,and maintainingthemin this condition. Hence, in order to provide asimpler and more prac' ticable plan of effecting the desired result, Imoisten with water the thin sheets of paper on which the gold-leaf islaid in making the book, and I find that if the water is slightlyacidulated the objections to the moistened sheets are effectuallyovercome, and a book can be produced in which the degree of adherence ofthe gold-leaf and pieces of paper is just about what is desired.Sulphuric, oxalic, or other acids may be used, the quantity dependingupon the strength of the acid. In practice I have used a solution of onetea-spoonfulof su1- phuric acid to a pint of water with good re sults;but this proportion need not be adhered to, the essential feature of theinvention being the acidulating of the water used in moistening thepieces of paper.

In order to effect a thorough and uniform Inoistening of the pieces ofpaper, I prefer to place a number of them between sheets of thick papersaturated or moistened with the acidulated water; but this plan is notabsolutely necessary.

I claim as my invention As an improvement in booking gold-leaf, the modeherein described of effecting the desired adherence of the leaves ofgold and paper, said mode consisting in first inoistening andacidulating sheets of paper, and then forming the book by alternateleaves of gold and such moistened and acidulated sheets of paper, as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDVARD EWVING.

